Electrical regulating system



y .1937. E. (#OURTIN 2,079,492

ELECTRICAL REGULAYILING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 23, 1934 Inventor: E ber-har-d Coumtin,

His Attorney.

Patented May '4, 1937 I V UNITED STATES 2,079,492 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Eberhard Co'nrtin, Berlin-mkwltz, Germany, assignor to General Electric Company, a corinflation of New York Application August 23,1934, Serial No. 741,163

fIn Germany August 23, 1933 mm (or. 71-11 9) My invention relates to electrical regulating systems and more particularly to improvements in the control of automaticelectrical regulating systems. r f In many automatic electrical regulating systems it is desirable to introduce aYtimedelay'ini the control for the system so asto prevent needless operation of the mechanism of thesy'stem in response to but momentary @fluctuations in the regulated condition or qua'r'itit 'I his is particularly true in relatively largeandl complicated motor operated regulatorsgsuch as' motor operated tap changing transiormers Furthermore, it is desirable to have the time delayrvary substantially inversely with the-degree or magnitude of the deviation of the regulated condition from a predetermined normal value, so; that for large deviations the time delay is short and the regulatiori takes place quickly; whereas for relatively small deviations, which it is not soirnportant to correct at once, the time delay islonger. Thus if the relatively small deviations disappear in themselves during the period of the time delay, the regulator neednot operate. However, it is also desirable to limit the time delay to a definite maximum so that for deviations sufllciently serious to require regulation a correction will take place'within a definite time.

In accordance with my invention I provide a novel regulator control system for producing the above desirable results. .Briefly, this regulating .system comprises a master circuit controller for controlling a time delay relay, which latter in turn controls the regulatingv system. For a regu-.

circuit controller, which responds to the regulated v condition. is so calibrated or adjusted that it only responds to deviations in the regulated condition which exceed a regulating step, for only in this manner can objectionable hunting of the system 'be avoided. In addition I provide my system with suitable interlocks so that after the time delay relay sends a control impulse to the regulating means for starting the latter, one interlock serves to deenergize the time delay relay, while the other interlock serves to continue the regulating action for a complete regulating step, regardless of the deenergization oi. the time delay relay. In this manner. over-regulation is avoided and the time delay relay is reset in its normal position so as to be ready again to perform its time delay function at the end of each regulating step.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved electrical regulating system.

A further object oi my invention is to provide a new and improved regulator control system, for

motor operated step type regulators, in which an inverse time delay isintroduced.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and itsscope will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment oi my invention as applied to an automatic voltage regulating sys-- tem for controlling a motor operated tap changing transformer. Referring now to this figure, I have shown an alternating current power supvply circuit l, and a load circuit 2, which are interconnected by a powerv transformer 3 having tap changing mechanism. 4 which is operated through suitable mechanical driving means 5 by a motor 6, whose fleld winding is connected to be energized from a suitable supply circuit 1 and whose armature is controlled by suitable reversing contactors or relay means 8 and 9 Means l and- 8 are controlled by a time delay relay ill which in turn is controlled in response to the voltage of load circuit 2 by means 01' a voltage having an energizing winding "connected across the circuit 2 through a potential transformer II.

sensitive relay or contact making voltmeter ll,

Time delay relay it comprises an induction typerelay having a disk It and oppositely acting shaded pole operating elements l5 and It. This relay also hasa movable contact llior cooperation with stationary contacts I8 and i9 and it is provided with biasing or centering springs for normally maintaining the movable contact I 1 midway between the stationary contacts II and i9, when the relay is deenergized. The operating element i6 is adapted to be energizedby a constant current and in order to secure this energization I provide in series therewith a ballast resistor 2| which has the well-known property of passing substantially constant current over a considerable range of variations in the voltage applied to the circuit containing it. The operating element I5 is energized in accordance with variations in the voltage of the circuit 2, in a manner to be described later. The operating elements lays 8 and 9. The other terminals of these relays changer.

are connected together to one side of the supply circuit 1 while the movable contact I1 is connected to the other side of the supply circuit.

The master control relay II is provided with a set of raise contacts 22 which close when the voltage of circuit 2 falls below a predetermined normal value by an amount slightly exceeding one half the voltage change produced by one tap change on the transformer. The relay II is also provided with two sets of lower" contacts II and 24 which are closed when the voltage of circuit 2 exceeds a predetermined normal value by an amount slightly exceeding one half the voltage change produced by one tap change on the transformer I. The relay II is also provided with a motion damping dashpot II for preventing chattering thereof and for preventing closure of its contacts on slight transient voltage changes.

As shown, the operating elements II and II of time delay relay II are both connected to one side of the transformer II by means of a conductor II. These two operating elements are energized in parallel and their other terminals are joined at a point 21. In addition to the ballast resistor II the operating element II also has in series therewith a second resistor II, while the operating element Ii has in series therewith a resistor II, part of which is adapted to be short circuited by the set of "lower contacts 24 of the contact making voltmeter II. The energizing circuit for the operating elements continues from point 21 through a conductor II and through an electro-mechanical interlocking switch II, on the operating means I for the tap changer. The circuit is then continued through a conductor I2 directly to one of the lower contacts II, and through a resistor II to one of the raise contacts 22. The purpose of short circuiting the left-hand portion of resistor II by contacts 24 and the purpose of resistor II is to insure a predetermined minimum difference in the energization of the operating elements II and II of the relay II, so as to insure a definite maximum time delay in the operation of this relay whenever the contact making voltmeter is actuated. This will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The purpose of the interlock II is to permit the time delay relay II to be reset to its midposition, so that this relay will be ready to function again and produce the proper inverse time delay for another step of regulation. In order to make this operation possible, however, it is n to provide additional interlocking means for maintaining the relay means I and I energised after an initial control impulse has caused them to start the operating motor I. As shown, this interlocking means comprises interlock switch contacts II and II on the relays I and I, respectively, and a switch member II carried by the operating means I for the tap ThisswitchIIisclosedinallpositions except when the tap changer is directly on one of the taps. As shown, a circuit extends from the upper side of the supply circuit 1 through the switch II to an electrically common contact on each of the interlock switches I4 and II. These switches then connect respectively in parallel-with the contacts II and I! of the relay II, so that whenever one of the relaysIorIpicksupandstartsthemotoracircult is completed through the switch II and the interlock contacts II, II for maintaining the relay energized until the tap changing operation has been completed when the switch II opens and allows the relay I or I to drop out.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of my invention is as follows: With the parts in the positions shown in the drawing, the voltage of circuit 2 is normal.

Assume now that the voltage of circuit 1 rises above normal by an amount which is slightly greater than one half the voltage change produced by one tap changing operation. When this occurs the contacts II and II of the relay II close thereby energizing the operating elements II and II of the time delay relay II. Due to the fact that part of the resistance II is short circuited by the contacts II the energization of operating element II preponderates over the energisation of operating element II so that the net operating torque on the disk II is counterclockwise. Furthermore, this net operating torque will always be counterclockwise so long as the contacts II and 24 are closed, because the amount of resistance II which is cut out by the contacts II is sufllcient to produce this preponderance at any over-voltage suflicient to cause the relay II to close its contacts II and 24.

Consequently, the relay II will always close its contacts I1 and II in a predetermined maximum time so long as the relay II is actuated in the manner described. However, as the current through operating element II is maintained con- I in accordance with the voltage of circuit 2.

Consequently the time for the contact II to engage the contact II varies inversely with the voltage rise above normal on circuit 2. As soon as contact II engages contact II relay I is energized thereby completing an energizing circuit for the motor I and starting a tap changing operation. At the same time the interlock contacts II close and the contacts II close before the contacts II open thereby completing a holding circuit for the relay I before the contacts II break the energizing circuit for the relay II.

The system now goes through a tap changing operation and if this has not been sumcient to restore the voltage to within the normal range as determined by the setting of relay II, this relay will again cause the energisation of time delay relay II and another operation will take place as described. If new the voltage of circuit 2 should fall below normal the "raise contacts I! will be closed thereby energizing the relay II through the resistor II, which so reduces the energization of operating element II that the torque of operation element II predominates thereover a sumcient amount to cause contact II of relay II to engage the contact II thereof in a predetermined maximum time. However, the lower the voltage of circuit 2 is, the less the counter-operating torque of element II and consequently the quicker contact I'l engages contact II. The engagement of contacts I1 and I I energizestherelayIwhichenergisesthemotorIso astorotateinareversedirectionandcauaethe tap changer to raise the voltage of circuit 2. The various interlocks also come into play as previously described and maintain the relay I energized until the tap changing operation is completed. while at the same time deenergising relay II and allowing it to return to its mid-position.

By suitable adjustment and settim of the contacts 3| they may lie made to close before a tap changing operation has been completed so asto start the relay to before the tap changing operation,has been completed thereby decreasing the time required for a multi-step regulating change.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I, therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and and regulating means for said apparatus controlled by said relay.

2. In a step type regulating system, a circuit controller responsive to deviations from a normal value of a regulated condition which exceed in magnitude a regulating step, and a time delay regulator control relay controlled by said circuit controller, said relay having means for causing its time delay to vary inversely with the magnitude of the deviation of the regulated condition.

3. In a regulating system, a time delay relay of the induction disk type having-two opposed normally deenergized operating elements, means for energizing one of said elements with a constant current andmeans for energizing the other element with a current which varies in accordance with the value oi-a condition to beiregulated.

4. In a regulating system, a time delay relay of the induction disk type having two opposed normally deenergized operating elements, means including a ballast resistor for energizing one of said elements with a constant current, and means for energizing the other element with 'a current which varies in accordance with the value of a condition to be regulated.

5. In aregulating system, apparatus having a quantity to be regulated, means for regulating said quantity in steps, control means for said regulating means comprising a circuit controller having a set of "lower" contacts whichclose when said quantity exceeds a given normal value by more than one half a regulating step and having a set of raise" contacts which close when said quantity is below said normal value by more than one half a regulating step and an induction disk time delay relay having two pposed operating elements, a ballast lamp in series with one of said elements, circuit connections for energizing said elements from a source of potential which varies in accordance with the value oi said quantity through said lower or raise contacts, respectively, said lower" contacts in addition serving to reduce the resistance of the circuit of the other operating element and said raise" contacts serving in addition to increase the resistance of the circuit of the other operating element.

6. A regulating system comprising, in combination, an alternating current supply circuit, an

alternating current load circuit, a tap changing,

transformer interconnecting said circuits, motor operated means for actuating the tap changing m means of said transformer, relay means for controlling the direction of operation of said motor, said relay means having an interlock whereby after the relay means has been actuated by a control impulse the interlock will maintain it energized for a'complete tap changing operation, a contact making voltmeter connected to be responsive to the voltage of one of said circuits and having a set of raise contacts and a set of lower contacts, a time delay relay having an induction disk and two operating elements arranged to act in opposition on said disk, said time delay relay having a movable contact arranged between two stationarycontacts, biasing means for normally centering said movable contact between said stationary contacts, circuit connections for causing the contacts of said time delay relay to control the motor control relay means, means controlled by said contact making voltmeter 'for energizing one of said time delay relay elements with a constant current and for energizing the other element with a current which is proportional to the voltage of one of said circuits, and means controlled by said motor operated means for deenergizing said element during a tap changing operation.

EBERHARD COUR'IIN. 

